DRUMSTICK CHOICE

In this lesson we look at all the sticks and
mallets a professional drummers stick bag includes. Let's look at
sticks first. It's a good idea to have a variety of different stick
models to use in different situations. This is a very personal
thing, but in any case you will want a selection of sticks that were
designed to play soft, all the way through to sticks that were
designed to play loud.

Start in the middle with an all purpose stick
like a 5A, you will want at least 2 pairs of this, if this is your
most common stick. For heavier styles you will want something like a
5B, or even a 2B. For lighter playing situations get some 7A sticks.
For delicate and articulate snare drum work get some fine tipped
sticks like Vater Staccato. If you play in a drum line, you may want
some heavier marching sticks also.

Next get some wire brushes
for jazz and other softer acoustic playing. If you want the volume
of a brush but the articulation closer to a stick, get some rods.
It's also a good idea to get some soft mallets for cymbal rolls and
tom rolls. If you look at an orchestral percussionists stick bag, it
will likely be twice the size, and include many variations of
mallets, including: xylophone, marimba, suspended cymbal,
glockenspiel, vibraphone etc. This would cost well over $1,000!

EXTRAS: It also a good idea to keep a drum tuning key, a conga
tuning key, 2B pencil, white eraser, black permanent marker,
business cards, ear plugs, and maybe a screwdriver and stanley knife
in the front pouch of your stick bag. These are all just odds and
ends, you may find you use at different gigs.